CLEARLAKE — A Clearlake woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, is still in shock and awe over the good fortune she experienced earlier this week. The woman wept tears of joy after learning that she did indeed become a $1 million California Lottery winner.
“I feel really blessed,” the 60-year-old woman said.
The winning “Millions in Cash” ticket was purchased at Foods, Etc. in Clearlake.
“We”ve never had a big winner so it”s really cool. It”s really cool that someone in Clearlake won a million bucks,” Dennis Darling, Foods, Etc. owner said. “Everyone in the store was really excited for her. It seems that all the winners are in other parts of California. It”s really nice that there is a winner here. We have $50 and $100 winners all the time; it”s nice to know that there”s a big one out there.”
The woman said that she bought the five dollar ticket along with other Scratchers. She said as she was scratching it off, she first thought it would be another ticket winner. She said she kept scratching and there was a one and a zero; she thought it was a $10 winner; then maybe a $100 winner. “I kept scratching and saw more and more zeros,” she said. “Then underneath it, it said $1 mill.”
The woman said even after seeing the “$1 mill” on the ticket, she was still in disbelief and continued scratching the other tickets she bought, with which she won an additional $8 she said.
“I couldn”t believe it. It was just so overwhelming,” the woman said. “(The store clerk) ran the ticket in the machine to verify if it was a winner and when it came back with a one and a lot of zeros, it was an adrenaline rush like I”ve never experienced before. All I could say was ?oh my God!” She was shaking; I was shaking and then I started crying. It was absolutely unreal. It proved to me that it could happen to anybody.”
Foods Etc, Head Clerk Trisha Lennon said that the experience was unreal for her as well. “We were amazed. I was in shock. It almost felt like I got to experience the win with her. In the seven years I”ve worked here, I”ve never experienced anything like this, but I always knew it was going to happen,” Lennon said. “It was a once in a lifetime moment. It was unbelievable and the look on her face was priceless.”
After verifying the ticket at the store, Lennon immediately advised the woman to sign it so no one else could claim it. The woman said she went home and called the California Lottery Commission and made the trip to Sacramento. “I woke up in the hotel at 4:30 in the morning and my sister-in-law had to reassure me that I wasn”t dreaming,” the woman said. “This is a godsend for me and everyone I love.”
The woman said she wants to share her good fortune with all employees of Foods, Etc. as well. “I do a lot of shopping at Foods and I would have never gotten this without that store,” she said. “I want to share the wealth so I”m going to give each one of the employees a $50 gift to celebrate this godsend. What comes around goes around and when you give back when something good comes to you, it”s just good karma.”
Darling said Foods, Etc. will receive a half percent of the winning, which amounts to $5,000. When asked what his plans are for the winnings he said, “We”re going to match what she is doing, so every employee will get $100.”
Although the woman said she intends to keep life simple, she does have a few plans for her winnings. “First I”m going to pay off my bills, get four new pairs of jeans and a new pair of tennis shoes,” she said adding that she also intends to help her family, fix her car and eventually buy property where she can “plant” herself.
She said she also looks forward to getting health coverage. “I”ve worked all my life, raised my family and now entering retirement I find myself without health coverage or a job,” she said. “Winning this million will allow me to get health, dental and eye insurance, which is a dream in itself.”
The woman said she doesn”t want to be frivolous with the winnings and one of her first task will be to make arrangements for meeting with a tax expert and a financial advisor. “I know not enough taxes are taken out and I want to have a clear picture of what I”m doing with this money,” she said.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
